In a continuation of the interview below, the Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash developers discussed why snacks are prominently featured in the game and the amount of work they put into making them.
Nintendo producer Risa Tabata explained during E3 2015 at the Treehouse Live presentations that this came about so that players would be able to truly understand Chibi-Robo’s size and so they would have more items to collect that felt substantial.
Tabata explained to Nintendo World Report:
“We were trying to think of ways to express [how tiny Chibi-Robo is] to give you a point of reference to show you how small he is in real life. Since this time, there are no people around, [the snacks are] something we can give you to compare.”
“Because the game itself takes place around the world in various places, we thought coming up with different monuments that you see around the world, such as the Statue of Liberty or the Pyramids, but that would be way too big to use as a reference for a tiny little robot. And that’s when I thought ‘What’s something that’s around us all the time, and makes people happy to see or to find in game?’ I personally also love snacks too, so I thought this is a great idea to implement in the game.”
In order for snacks to be included in Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash, Nintendo branches in North America and Europe had to reach out to different companies asking for permission. Tabata also visited 30 different snack food companies for the Japanese version.
Nintendo producer Kensuke Tanabe said:
[Update End]“Around this time in Japan, it is super hot and humid. So she was wearing her business attire, walking around the whole country, travelling to present this idea to all these people. I myself was sitting in the office, just chilling, thinking ‘She’s going through such a hard labor.’ *laughs*”
In an interview with Nintendo World Report, the developers of Chibi-Robo!: Zip Lash have once again discussed the decision to make the game a platformer as opposed to an adventure experience.
Producer Risa Tabata said:
“That was sort of our hint to focus on the action types of things. For the previous Chibi-Robo games, we had more of the adventure aspect. And for those who are really big fans of Chibi-Robo, it was great. People loved it, but we couldn’t quite say that it was widely known by a lot of people. So we wanted to branch out and explore more things.”
Nintendo producer Kensuke Tanabe added that a platformer “would be a great way to expand that fanbase” in America.
In addition, when asked about the possibility of Olimar and the Pikmin running into Chibi-Robo! at some point in the future, he has this to say:
“That’s an interesting idea, and something I could speak to Mr. Miyamoto about a collaboration.”
What do you think? Would you like to see a Chibi-Robo X Pikmin collaboration happen?
(I find it funny they asked this, because I had discussed this idea on Reddit right before E3! I think it could be interesting too…)